Senior Scientist, Technical Operations

At Personalis, we are transforming the active management of cancer through breakthrough personalized testing. We aim to drive a new paradigm for cancer management, guiding care from biopsy through the life of the patient. Our highly sensitive assays combine tumor-and-normal profiling with proprietary algorithms to deliver advanced insights even as cancer evolves over time. Our products are designed to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) and recurrence at the earliest timepoints, enable selection of targeted therapies based on ultra-comprehensive genomic profiling, and enhance biomarker strategy for drug development. Personalis is based in Fremont, California.

Summary:

We are seeking a talented and experienced Senior Scientist to join a team of engineers and scientists to enable efficient and scalable lab processes, execute product and process improvements, validation, and implementation, and provide lab operation support. While the primary objective of this role is supporting Operations, this position will also work closely with early R&D, product development, LIMS and software teams throughout the product development lifecycle. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, dynamic team player with hands-on experience in implementing and troubleshooting both manual and automated Next Generation Sequencing assays and workflows.

Responsibilities:

● Partner with cross-functional teams such as R&D, Operations, LIMS, Supply Chain, Data Analytics, Quality, and Regulatory to implement new products and automated processes, plan operational releases, and manage product life cycle.
● Contribute to the company’s strategic plan to ensure sustainability and scalability of lab operational processes and to meet evolving regulatory requirements.
● Participate in lab operations troubleshooting effort and support non-conformance investigations and corrective action implementations.
● Collaborate with Operations and Quality teams to draft and update operational SOPs.
● Partner with lab operations, product development, research and automation teams to identify areas of growth in sample volume and implement potential operational improvements.
● Contribute to planning and executing development and validation studies to drive operational efficiencies, process improvements, and COGS reduction.
● Participate in project core teams, lead working teams, and collaborate cross-functional to formulate relevant project deliverables per the company’s product development process.
● Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers and scientists within the Technical Operations team.

Education and Experience:

● A Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering or related field with a minimum of 8 years relevant experience. An advanced degree can be advantageous.
● Excellent verbal and written communication skills and willingness to collaborate cross-functionally.
● Experience with CLIA/CAP/ISO 13485/FDA regulatory requirements strongly preferred.
● Practical knowledge of Next Generation Sequencing technologies and sample preparation workflows.
● LIMS integration and Laboratory automation experience are a plus.
● Experience in experimental design, product/process verification and validation, troubleshooting, and data analysis.
● Proven ability to think innovatively toward solving problems effectively and efficiently.
● Analytical, detail-oriented, organized, takes initiative, and self-motivated.

The hiring range for this position is $126,000 to $160,000 per year, which may factor in various geographic regions. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. Our full-time regular positions also include an annual performance-based bonus (or a sales incentive plan) and long-term incentive units (equity) provided as part of our compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

Personalis is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals. As part of this commitment, Personalis will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you need an accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please let your recruiter know, if/when they contacts you.

Personalis is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabilities. Personalis offers a competitive compensation package and benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) match, ESPP, tuition reimbursement, sick/vacation time, commuter benefits/ EV charging stations, onsite gym, and wellness benefits. (For US only, benefits in other countries may vary.) 

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